LINCOLN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD

Ruston, Louisiana

REGULAR SESSION

Tuesday, March 4, 2008   6:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Parish School Board met in Regular Session on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Lincoln Parish School Board Office, 410 South Farmerville Street, Ruston, Louisiana.  Members present were President Otha Anders, Mr. Michael Barmore, Ms. Lisa Best, Mr. Curtis Dowling, Ms. Mattie Harrison, Ms. Lynda Henderson, Mr. Trott Hunt, Mr. Eddie Jones, Mr. Jim Kessler, Mr. George Mack, Mr. Ted McKinney, and Mr. Joe Mitcham.

No board member was absent.

President Anders called the meeting to order, and the invocation was given by Mr. Kessler.  Ms. Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag.  Mr. Anders welcomed board members, staff, members of the press, and visitors to the meeting.

Upon a motion by Ms. Best, seconded by Mr. Hunt, the Board unanimously voted to adopt the agenda as printed.

Upon a motion by Mr. Kessler, seconded by Mr. Barmore, the Board unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the Regular Sessions held on February 5 and February 20, 2008, as distributed.

The Board served as a Committee of the Whole and the following Personnel Committee agenda items were considered after Mary Null, Director of Instruction, Personnel and Special Programs, presented 1. - 2. and Ronny Volentine, Transportation Supervisor, presented 3. - 4.:

1.       Resignation of Kirk Andrews, social studies/P. E. at Dubach High, effective March 3, 2008.

2.   Retirement of the following:

      Mickey Hollis, math teacher at Choudrant High, effective June 3, 2008.

      Connie White, teacher at the Youth Rescue Center, effective February 22, 2008.

3.   Resignation of Christi Dickerson, bus driver in the Ruston area, effective February 7, 2008.

4.   Employment of Patricia Smith as bus driver in the Ruston area, effective February 7, 2008, replacing Christi Dickerson who resigned.

Upon a motion by Mr. Mitcham, seconded by Mr. Dowling, the Board unanimously voted to approve the personnel recommendations and requests.

Although the school system’s District Performance Score (DPS) increased from 88.5 to 90.1, the district dropped from a 19th ranking statewide to a 21st ranking according to Betty Wall, Accountability Coordinator.  This score was a compilation of individual student scores on the LEAP tests, the iLEAP tests, and the Graduation Exit Exams (GEE) as well as attendance and dropout rates.  The non-dropout rate was 96.6% last year and earned a label of Unacceptable.  This year the rate was 97.0% and earned a label of Marginal and a 37th ranking in the state.  This factor is now called 8th Grade Persistence Indicator and is calculated based on the number of eighth graders who graduate in four years.  Mrs. Wall was ecstatic to report that Lincoln ranked 7th in the state for teacher certification with a 99.8% index and a label of Exceptional.  In addition, the system had an index of 100% certified teachers in Low Performing Schools.  She closed by saying that she is proud of the performance of the students and staff.

George Murphy reported that $1,328,740 was collected in sales taxes during the month of February 2008.  This was a 33.7% increase for the month and 16.03% increase year-to-date.  In the 1967 and 1979 sales tax funds, $603,974 was collected.  Deposits in the 1993 and 2000 sales tax funds were $724,766.  He noted that the monthly sales tax increase, 33.7%, was quite a bit higher than the usual percentages.  The Sales & Use Tax Administrator told him that two months of collections from the auto dealers was included in this month’s figures.  Monies recovered from audits totaled $9,534 for the month.  Compared to the same time last year, the audit monies were down 58.5%. 

The January 2008 financial statement showed positive balances in the ad valorem and property tax funds because those monies were received.  Sales tax funds were doing fine, and the General Fund was up $2.6 million for the year.

In a Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Bell said that:

1.     He is moving forward with Ron Riley Engineering for professional services to help with site work for the pre-kindergarten center.

2.     The tax renewal election is coming up on Saturday, March 8.  He commended his staff and others who have helped get correct information out to the public.  He feels very positive about the outcome.

3.     He’d like to remind Board members about the accountability meeting at noon on April 11.

4.     Testing begins next Monday, and most of the central office staff will be involved with those assessments.

5.     He plans to attend the NSBA convention in Orlando on March 27 - 30.  There appear to be some good sessions for superintendents.  

6.     Jo Tatum, the Board’s representative on the Lincoln Health Foundation, sent an update.  Questions or suggestions should be directed to her.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

________________________________                ________________________________

Danny L. Bell, Secretary                                     Otha L. Anders, President